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Cirque du Soleil’s Volta coming to the Portland Expo Center in June 2020

Circus of the Sun

Cirque du Soleil’s Volta coming to the Portland Expo Center in June 2020

Dec. 18, 2019 9 a.m.

Volta is Cirque du Soleil’s first sports-inspired show. Energetic, urban and contemporary, Volta is a captivating voyage of discovery that showcases never-before-seen acrobatics in a visually striking world under the Big Top.

Cirque du Soleil returns to the Portland Expo Center for a limited engagement run of Volta June 18 to Aug. 2, 2020.

Volta is Cirque du Soleil’s first sports-inspired show. Energetic, urban and contemporary, Volta offers audiences a captivating voyage of discovery that showcases never-before-seen acrobatics in a visually striking world under the Big Top.

“Volta is a street sports and electronic music show that features completely new disciplines, such as BMX, while telling a very touching story about self-acceptance and celebrating difference,” said Steven Ross, senior publicist for Cirque du Soleil. “The show will definitely resonate with Portland’s audience and we think it will be the must-see event of the summer.”

The creators of Voltadrew inspiration from the spirit of adventure that pervades the world of BMX and street sports. Whether they are on a bike, hopping from rooftop to rooftop, or double-Dutch rope skipping, urban sports enthusiasts constantly challenge themselves and defy convention.

The show is driven by a stirring melodic score composed by Anthony Gonzalez from the electronic group M83.

With Volta, Portland Expo Center will be hosting Cirque du Soleil for the fourth time. The troupe brought Ovo to Portland in 2012, followed by Totem in 2014, and Kurios in 2017. The awe-inspiring performances attracted thousands of people from across the Northwest.

“We’re in a unique position to accommodate Cirque du Soleil's large scale set-up,” said Matthew Rotchford, executive director of Portland Expo Center. “This production will be a welcome addition to our many event offerings. We anticipate that Volta will be a great success this summer attracting a new demographic to the Expo Center and driving people to businesses and restaurants located in north and northeast Portland."

“A show like Volta by Cirque du Soleil at the Portland Expo Center is a tremendous win for our visitor venues, residents who enjoy this world-class performance and the many businesses that will benefit from the economic benefits to the region,” said Scott Cruickshank, general manager of Metro’s visitor venues. “Cirque du Soleil's performances have a tremendous economic impact on greater Portland, specifically north and northeast Portland.

“I am so proud of our team and our facility," said Rotchford. "The Portland Expo Center, along with Cirque du Soleil and our amazing event producers, have proven time and again that we know how to work together and put our customers first.”

The addition of Cirque du Soleil to Expo’s client mix is part of a deliberate effort to diversify the venue’s portfolio and strengthen the facility’s long-term financial outlook and continued contributions to the greater Portland community. The Portland Expo Center is unique among similar publicly-owned venues across the country in that it pays its own general obligation bond, saving taxpayer dollars. Since Cirque du Soleil’s first visit in 2012, the Expo Center has undergone numerous facility improvements aimed at enhancing the experience for patrons and providing public benefit to the community.

Rotchford says that while public consumer shows such as the Home and Garden Show or the Portland Roadster Show continue to provide a solid foundation for the facility’s business, “increases in hosting weekday tradeshows, community fundraisers, cultural events, concerts and unique offerings such as Cirque du Soleil, result in the Expo Center’s continuing evolution as a gathering place for all people, and all types of events.”

"We want to present something for everyone and welcome a diverse customer base," Rotchford said. "All of these various events contribute so much for the good of the region’s economy – so many of these events are driven by volunteers who are committed to their community and/or their hobby or field of interest.”

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